5. Emma

FIVE

Emma

There was talking and laughter from the kitchen as I made my way toward it, stumbling along like the exhausted zombie I was. Yes, I’d managed to dress and do a basic job on my hair and makeup, but I’d had my eyes closed for most of it. For all I knew, I had lipstick in an uneven line across my cheek.

Blinking into the sunlight, I spotted Daniel, Alice, and Henry all gathered around the table, with food laid out in front of them. My heart rose just a little. This was my little family, and I loved them. But before I loved them too much, I needed coffee.

I slid into the chair at the breakfast table, my eyes still heavy from a short night's sleep. The smell of coffee wafted through the air, mingling with the scent of toasted bread. "Morning." I reached for my mug, which had been conveniently set out by a certain sexy bear shifter, I was sure of it.

"Hey, you." Daniel greeted me with his easy smile, pushing the coffee pot toward me. "Sleep well?"

"Could've been better." I poured the dark liquid and took a grateful sip. "How about you?" He’d been awake for a while before I’d even thought about rolling over. I might’ve tried to sleep longer if I hadn’t had to pee so badly.

"Like a log," he replied, crunching on a piece of toast and swallowing before adding. "Sometimes it takes me longer to go to sleep because I’m still getting used to the sound of rolling waves instead of the quiet woods, but it’s getting easier every night I live here.”

"How about you guys?” I asked Henry and Alice.

Alice smiled, looking ready for her day in a pink cardigan, her auburn locks in their typical tight bun at the back of her neck. "I always sleep well next to Henry. Everything about him is so quiet and peaceful.”

Henry returned her smile, then he took his tablet off his lap and set it on the table in front of him. "Whether it’s the autism, or just something unique about me, she always says my emotions are calm and easy to be around.”

They slid their hands toward each other, but the sides of their fingers just touched. It was a sweet gesture. These two kids were absolutely going to make it together, of that I had no doubt. A witchy, empath, and my brother, what a perfect fit.

I took a piece of buttered toast off of the plate in the middle of the table and chewed thoughtfully. "So, the wedding's just two weeks away."

"Everything ready?" Daniel asked, looking at me. "I’ve completed my list, but I know yours is much longer.”

"Almost. Just a few last-minute details." I wiped my mouth with a napkin.

"Like what?" Henry didn’t even look up from his tablet, but he was interested.

"Catering, final headcount... you know, the fun stuff," I said, and it was fun, at least for a small wedding with two people who were relaxed about just about every aspect of the big event.

"We really appreciate you handling everything,” Alice said, her dark doe eyes meeting mine. "If you hadn’t agreed to be our planner, we would’ve just eloped, and my mom would’ve been crushed… even though she doesn’t want to deal with wedding planning either. You know how she is.”

"No problem at all. If I did this for a living, you two would be my dream clients. Which, by the way, we picked out your wedding cake last night. It’s carrot.”

Henry still didn’t look up. "Deva’s carrot cake? Because I won’t eat it from anywhere else.”

I grinned. "Yes, from Deva.”

Alice sighed. "I love all her cakes. Good choice.”

"Me too,” I said. "Now, what else? What else?”

Alice grinned eagerly. "I finished crocheting my dress for it."

"Really?" A crocheted wedding dress was absolutely perfect for Alice. "That must've taken ages."

"Got a picture?" Daniel asked, this time glancing around, probably for her phone.

"Not on me. My phone is upstairs. But it's lavender, with little pearl accents," Alice said, a proud smile spreading across her face. "And you can’t see it.”

"Technically,” Henry said, in his "proper” sounding voice, "I can, I just have to wait for our wedding day. Even so, I can't wait to see it."

"Me neither. I bet you look amazing.” I meant it. Alice had a way of turning simple things into art.

"Henry looked amazing in his suit,” Daniel said. "He really scrubs up well.”

"Felt like a straitjacket. It was tight in all these weird places," he muttered, but there was a small, reluctant smile on his lips.

"Ah, come on," Daniel chuckled, "you looked sharp. Alice will love it." He grinned at Alice, his eyes practically sparkling.

"Sure, I guess," Henry said, his gaze dropping to his tablet. "For Alice, it's worth it." He sighed, the sound almost lost amidst the clatter of dishes and the scrape of cutlery.

Alice leaned back in her chair. "You know, you could always wear your Star Wars’ uniform instead. It’s your favorite outfit, and the stormtrooper’s uniform is white, so wedding appropriate."

Daniel stopped mid-chew, a look crossing his face that was half amusement, half disbelief. "Stormtrooper’s uniform? Or Jedi clothes?" He wiped his mouth with a napkin.

I couldn't help but laugh. "He could, I suppose." I pictured Henry decked out as a Jedi among a sea of formal attire. "But most of us, myself included, will be a bit fancier than that."

Henry's lips twitched into a smile, the discomfort of the tight collar momentarily forgotten. "Maybe for the reception.” He grinned at Alice, tasting his eggs, and then frowning down at them. "But the wedding photos? I'll be in a real suit for that."

Daniel reached across the table, passing the salt to Henry without missing a beat in their conversation. "Just remember, stay calm. Don't want to be sweating through that suit before Alice walks down the aisle."

"Good point." Henry took the salt with a grateful look.

"Also, deep breaths." Daniel leaned back in his chair as he offered a knowing smile. "It helps with the nerves."

Just then, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out to see a text.

Beth: Outside. Ready when you are. Carol wasn’t able to make it, she had to work at her shop, and Deva couldn’t leave the restaurant, so it’s just us.

"Looks like my ride's here." I stood up and smoothed down my jeans. "Beth's waiting for me. Just leave the dishes until I get back, and I’ll take care of them."

"I'll handle it," he said, already collecting the empty plates.

"Are you sure?" I asked.

He nodded, a soft smile playing on his lips. He stepped closer, closing the space between us. He stood comfortably over me, green eyes warm. "It's the least I can do."

"Okay then." I reached up, my hand resting briefly on the rough stubble at his jaw before pulling him down for a quick kiss. His lips were firm, reassuring.

"Hey," he said as we parted, a hint of seriousness taking over his easygoing demeanor. "I'm swinging by the station later. Need to check in about the attacks. They could only tell me so much on the phone."

"Any leads?"

"Nothing solid. But we'll figure out what's going on, don’t worry.”

"Just be careful out there." After talking to Trudy, I knew full well what these creatures were capable of.

"Always am." His grin returned, crinkles framing his eyes, and with that, he turned back to the sink, rolling up his sleeves. "Henry, Alice, until I get this sorted out with the pack, no one should be out after dark. Got it?"

I glanced back at Alice's nod, then at Henry who looked more concerned about his Star Wars’ suit than werewolves. But he looked at Daniel and muttered, "Yeah, got it."

"Good." Daniel started the water. "I mean it, guys. It's not safe right now."

Alice crossed her arms. "We'll stay inside," she promised, and Henry echoed her sentiment.

"Daniel's right," I added firmly, catching my brother's gaze.

"Okay, okay," Henry agreed, finally looking serious. "No night wandering."

"Thank you," Daniel said. "That's settled then."

I stepped out into the cool morning air, squinting against the brightness of the day. Next door, Wade was trimming his rose bushes with methodical snips. I lifted my hand in a wave. "Hey, Wade!”

He straightened up and wiped his brow with the back of his hand, a small smile on his face. Crossing the lawn, he walked over to where I stood on my front porch. Beth watched from the car, her fingers drumming on the steering wheel.

"Morning, Emma," Wade said, his voice steady and calm.

My gaze slid over him, noting that even this early in the morning his brown hair looked styled, and his deep blue eyes seemed energized and cheery. He was wearing some of his typical gardening clothes, a white t-shirt and gray sweatpants, but even so, he somehow seemed to look professional. Maybe it was the ex-professor in him, or his mermaid-half, since mermaids always looked beautiful, but he was a decent looking man. Even with the dad bod.

Beth needed to take the next step with this guy. In a town like Mystic Hollow, good guys didn’t stay single for long unless they wanted to stay single for long, and Wade struck me as someone longing for a connection. I wondered if there was a way to help my friend without overstepping. Probably not, but I sure as heck was going to try.

"Hey. So, how's your unicorn investigation going?" I needed to be on alert if I was going to smoothly steer this conversation to Beth.

Wade's smile faded a bit, replaced by a furrowed brow. "Not a single one since that day." He shook his head. "It's like they've vanished into thin air. I've been tracking them," Wade continued, a hint of frustration lacing his voice. "Deep into the woods, farther than I've ever gone before."

"And nothing?"

He scanned the ground as if he might find a clue there. "No. It's like they know they're being followed. They're hiding, or... I don't know."

"Must be tough." Poor guy. He was clearly frustrated.

"I set up a couple of video cameras too," he added quickly, as though he had to prove his efforts. "The kind that only records when there's movement. But nothing's triggered them yet. Not even a squirrel."

"That's strange." I frowned. "You think someone's messing with them?"

"Could be," he shrugged. "Or maybe the unicorns are just that good at staying out of sight. If someone is messing with us, they're a ghost." Wade glanced at his watch. "Been checking every lead on the horn black market too. Nothing solid yet."

"Researching unicorn horns?"

"Yeah, their uses. Figuring out who'd want them badly could help." He stuffed his hands in his pockets, looking uneasy. "I gotta head out.”

He shot Beth an uneasy look, then moved closer to me and lowered his voice. "Oh, uh, by the way, you know what kind of food Beth's into? Anything she particularly likes?"

"French," I replied with a quick nod.

"French,” he repeated, with a smile. "Perfect. I can do that.”

I hesitated, but then pressed on. "Yeah, taking her out to a French restaurant would be perfect. And afterwards, well, she loves a sweet finish to her meal."

"Sweet finish?” He looked confused.

I nodded, trying not to grin. "You know, only something you could give her to sweeten up her night?”

His eyes widened, and a blush darkened his cheeks. "Oh, a sweet finish!"

I winked, unable to resist a little tease. "Exactly."

"Got it. The thing is, I’ve wanted to… share something sweet with her, but I didn’t want to rush her into... dessert." He looked away for a second. "I can be patient when I know I’ve got the right dessert, especially knowing it’s one that scares easily. What are days or months when I’ll have a lifetime with that dessert eventually."

"I understand that." I chuckled. Their romance was freaking sweet. "But I think she might be ready for dessert.”

"You don’t say.” He was beaming.

But then another thought occurred to me, and I decided it’d be best to clarify, so I didn’t make things worse. "Also, Beth’s not the type who is looking to devour a whole dessert already. Might appreciate just a taste, you know? Just a sample, if you will."

"Right, just a... sample of what's to come." He rubbed the back of his neck, looking flustered.

"Exactly, but not the whole slice of cake at once. That very well could be too much… sugar for her so fast." My phone buzzed in my pocket, signaling it was time to go.

Beth was being impatient.

Wade's face turned the color of a ripe tomato as heat creeped up my own cheeks.

"Look at us, all mature," I said, wavering between a laugh and a cough.

"Right, just a couple of adults talking pastries," he managed, his smile twitching as if it didn't know which way to go.

I glanced down at my phone, then back at Beth in the car who gives us a friendly wave. "I should get going. Beth's waiting."

Wade waved back with a nervous smile. "Of course." He took a step back but tripped slightly over a small rock behind him. He caught himself, arms flailing in a brief, comical dance for balance.

"Smooth," I teased.

"Always," Wade replied with an exaggerated nod, trying to reclaim some semblance of dignity.

We shared a look, a silent agreement that this conversation was one for the books—or at least one we'd both pretend to forget by tomorrow.

"See you around, Wade."

"Watch out for unicorns."

"Or dessert lovers," I called over my shoulder without turning back.

The last thing I heard was his quiet laughter mingling with the soft morning breeze.